His faith was undoubtedly rewarded; but Providence in the
execution of its will loves to use vigilant human eyes and ready,
loving hands. The guardian angel destined to protect the good man
was his blooming daughter Phebe, who had never thought of herself
as an angel, and indeed rarely thought of herself at all, as is
usually the case with those who do most to sweeten and brighten
the world. She was a natural, wholesome, human child, with all a
child's unconsciousness of self. She knew she could not protect
her father like a great stalwart son, but she could watch and warn
him of danger, and as the sequel proved, she could do far more.
The farmer's habits were well known, and the ruffians of the
mountains were aware that after he had shut himself in he was much
like Noah in his ark. If they attempted to burn him out, the
flames would bring down upon them a score of neighbors not
hampered by Quaker principles. Therefore they resolved upon a
sudden onslaught before he had finished the evening labors of the
farm. This was what the farmer feared; and Phebe, like a vigilant
outpost, was now never absent from her place of observation until
called in.
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